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Here are important dates leading up to Nov. 7 election

Though it seems as though we just had an election in Ohio, another one is rapidly approaching. In fact, the deadline for Ohio residents to register to vote or update their registration is Tuesday. It’s an off-year election, but this is another significant one — there are two constitutional amendments on the ballot, in addition to important school, municipal and county races and decisions to make on a variety of levies and local issues. It is important eligible Ohioans check their registration — and then vote. Early voting starts Wednesday and lasts through Nov. 5. Absentee ...

Internet access for all must become a priority

During this national Digital Inclusion Week, Ohio Department of Development officials are focusing on making digital technology available and practical for all Ohioans — following the week’s theme “Building Connected Communities.” “You cannot have opportunities in a modern economy without access to broadband internet and the skills to use it, which is why our mission to make Ohio more connected is so important,” Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said Monday. “During this week, I encourage all Ohioans to take advantage of the resources available to become more knowledgeable and better ...

HB 33 is an example of the sneakiness of Ohio legislators

Ohio’s House Bill 33 took months to come to the public’s attention, having been sneaked into a nearly 6,200-page budget bill where only those few who knew about it and knew where to look for it would find it. There can be no more perfect argument for the need to fix — even better, repeal — HB 33 than the public’s extended lack of awareness of state government’s work to lengthen the shadows in which it hides. As summarized by the Public Notice Resource Center, HB 33 “allows municipalities to publish many or most of their notices on their own websites and social media feeds ...

Reaffirming our stance to all of our readers

Across the country, communities are changing the way they access local news. Many still read a printed newspaper, others make it a habit to check in regularly with their hometown newspaper’s website or app, and some wait to see what is being posted and shared on their favorite social media platforms. How ever they receive it, there is no doubt local news is important to the vast majority of Americans — approximately 80% of them, according to the Newspaper Association Managers Inc. During this National Newspaper Week, NAM’s theme is “In print. Online. For You. Newspapers your ...

Despicable moment can be used to teach, learn

“This is not the first time Beachwood student-athletes have been subjected to antisemitic and racist speech. We always hope it will be the last.” Those words from Superintendent Robert Hardis, who leads the approximately 90% Jewish Beachwood School District in Ohio, are a heartbreaking response to the behavior of Brooklyn (Ohio) High School football players who last week repeatedly used the word “Nazi” to call plays during a game against Beachwood. Then, when Beachwood threatened to pull their players from the field, the team stopped using that word to call plays, but several ...

Put public notices where they will be seen the most

New mandates buried deep in the 6,198-page state budget bill passed June 30 by Ohio legislators will remove some requirements that local government post official notice of public projects and business in the newspaper of record. The move is just the latest assault by Ohio legislators in its ongoing barrage against government openness and transparency. This latest assault comes in the form of new law that takes effect Tuesday, softening rules that previously required municipalities to publish in the newspaper details of the public’s business. Until now, Ohio law ensured local ...